Top Trends Float European Waterways’ Boats

European Waterways is reporting record sales of its hotel barge cruises as post-pandemic concerns continue to drive many of the mayor travel trends that speak to the company’s canal barging experience.

With some travelers still preferring to create a “travel bubble” composed of families and small groups, for example, the company says that its private charter bookings have increased more than 45%.

It also notes that travelers are also seeking experiences that take them “off the beaten path;” they want to be more than observers, but also become immersed in the local culture, gastronomy, and history of the region.

Derek Banks, European Waterways’ managing director, said: “We had a record year in 2022, with bookings 16 percent higher than our previous record, because our cruises tick all the boxes. We offer exclusive ‘slow travel’ and ‘relaxed luxury’ experiences that are consistently among the most frequently cited industry trends.”

Banks continued: “Our 2023 bookings are already on another record pace. We’re also seeing strong bookings for 2024 and even 2025. It reflects another travel trend of people feeling more confident about the future and booking their dream, ‘bucket list’ vacations far in advance.”

And he added: “More and more travelers are discovering the ‘joys of luxury hotel barge cruising,’ and we are thrilled and honored to be recognized as a pioneer and standard-bearer for the industry.”